Canberra is known for having the most highly educated workforce in Australia; a place where smart business leaders, courageous entrepreneurs and pioneering companies can make a real impact.

Synergy Group Australia has shown Canberra’s ability to compete on the national stage and also underlined its growing pedigree by winning ‘Fast Growing Firm of the Year’ at the Australian Accounting Awards.

At a five-star gala dinner held in Sydney on Friday night (14 October), Synergy scooped one of the 22 awards on offer, whilst also being recognised as a finalist in the Firm of the Year – less than $1billion and Community Engagement Program of the Year across 161 finalists.

It’s an accolade that highlights the city’s business strength while demonstrating that local start-ups can grow and flourish nationally.

Founded in 1999, Synergy conducted its business out of a small apartment but now has grown to over 140 people, including growth of nearly 60% in the last nine months.

Synergy held off eight other finalists to win Fast-Growing Firm of the Year, an award which recognises the accounting firm that demonstrated the most effective business growth during the 2015/16 financial year.

Synergy Partner Mark Pattrick said the company was delighted to win the prestigious national award.

“To win a major national award is another significant moment for our team in what has already been an incredible 12 months,” Mark said. “We have targeted large-scale growth as part of our business plans and to see this recognised on a national level is incredible for our company.

“We are proud of our Canberra heritage and the award shows that our city and its businesses really can compete at a national level.”

Mark said that the firm would use the award to target further growth in coming years.

“At this time of significant growth in our company, the award recognises that we are heading in the right direction,” Mark said. “We want to continue our growth, while at the same time ensuring that our clients are given the excellent service that we have built our reputation on.”